Lenawee County food pantries see rising need as prices climb

LENAWEE CO., Mich. (WTVG) – Food pantries in Lenawee County are facing a growing need as families struggle to keep up with rising costs. One local organization is asking neighbors to help restock empty shelves.

Janet Salzwedel volunteers at Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry. She said the pantry has seen a 30% increase in new faces.

“We’re seeing more families with children. We’re seeing seniors who were getting by on Social Security and aren’t anymore because of costs and some social security cuts,” Salzwedel said.

When the shelves are empty, getting help becomes harder. Hope in Action wants to make sure local residents have access to food.

The organization is launching Neighbors Feed Neighbors: Lenawee Emergency Food Drive. The goal is to collect 1,500 food items and raise $1,000 or more over the next 30 days.

Allison Bader, founder of Hope in Action, said certain items are especially needed.

“A lot of people are donating vegetables, which are great, but you have to think — a lot of times these are families with picky children. Also, you need protein; things with meat, things with pop tops are easy to do,” Bader said.

Those donations will help restock pantries across the area. The need comes as SNAP eligibility and reporting requirements put additional pressure on some families.

“Some of the benefits are cut, so it’s increasing the need,” Salzwedel said.

Donations can be dropped off starting Saturday, Sept. 19, when businesses open, at the Adrian District Library, Align Center, Country Market and Sass Gift Shop.

Organizers said the effort is about more than filling pantry shelves. It’s about neighbors stepping up for one another when families need help the most.

“Maybe you’ll be able to be stabilized and help somebody else in the future, but you should never ever feel ashamed,” Bader said.

The community effort begins Saturday.

Hope in Action’s Fall Food Drive(Hope in Action)